Die former



Feb. 17, 1970 G. D. KU HN 3,495,333

DIE FORMER.

- Filed Oct. 31. 1966 I INVENTOR. GER/710 a Kwnv Ziorrzey United StatesPatent 01 fee 3,495,333 Patented Feb. 17, 1970 3,495,333 DIE FORMERGerald D. Kuhn, 2701 Oakley St, Evansville, Ind. 47710 Filed Oct. 31,1966, Ser. No. 590,980 Int. Cl. A61c 11/00 US. Cl. 32--32 3 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a dieformer, and more particuraly to a dental die former which providesquickness, convenience and accuracy in use not available heretofore.

As is known, in the making of gold crowns or the like, previous dentaltrays have been burdensome to the technician, considering, by way ofexample, the necessity, in one instance, of the repeated locking andunlocking of the tray while Working on the model. In another approach,positioning pins were employed in connection with each tooth, aprocedure which oftentimes resulted in the damage of the tooth model andthe difficulty of tooth alignment during use. In any event, it hasbecome evident that a new technique was necessary to achieve betterworkability on the part of the dental technician.

By virtue of the instant invention, the applicant herein has provided anew and novel die former which reflects ease in use by the dentaltechnician and, at the same time, excellent end results. Broadly, theinstant die former compises, in the full arch embodiment, a memberdefined as a combined inner wall and base, where an outer wall issecured thereto through threaded means, for example. Most importantly,the inner surfaces of both the inner wall and the outer wall are ridgedvertically so that tooth sections may be readily and quickly removed forsubsequent work and returned to their exact position, when desired, inthe die former. The preceding is accomplished without any locking and/orunlocking action, thereby affording a convenience and accuracy not atall present heretofore.

In the partial arch embodiment, the instant die former comprises amember defined as a combined wall and base, where another wall isselectively assembled therewith, as through snap-lock means. In anyevent, vertically disposed ridges are provided on the inner surfaces ofthe walls as in the full arch embodiment, where, again, a tooth sectionof the model may be readily withdrawn without any unlocking action, and,subsequently, after being processed, returned to its exact position inthe die former.

Accordingly, the principal object of the present invention is to providea new and novel die former having particular application to the dentalprofession.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and noveldie former representative of a minimum number of operative componentswhich combine to achieve quickness, convenience and accuracy in use.

A further and more general object of the present invention is to providea new and novel die former used by dental technicians which may bereadily mounted on the known articulator; which eliminates anyunnecessary and repetitive steps in use, such as locking and unlocking;and which lends itself to manufacturing economies.

Other objects and a better understanding of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein FIG. 1 is a plan viewof a die former in accordance with the teachings of the instantinvention;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section, taken at line 22 of FIG. 1 andlooking in the direction of the arrows, showing further details of theinvention at hand;

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the die former of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of another embodiment of die former, for a modelfrom a partial arch impression, in accordance with the invention athand; and

FIG. 5 is a view in elevation, partly broken away, showing furtherdetails of this invention embodiment.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended, such alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated devices, and such further applicationsof the principles of the invention as illustrated therein beingcontemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to whichthe invention relates.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a die former 10 is disclosed for amodel 30 from a full arch impression. More specifically, the die former10 comprises an archshaped inner .member 12, typically defining a walland a base, and an arch-shaped outer member 14, typically defining aWall, assembled together by threaded means, such as screws 16, forexample. Most importantly, and as should be particularly evident fromFIG. 1, the facing surfaces of the walls of the inner member 12 and theouter member 14 each have vertically extending ridges or ribs 18therealong, for purposes of accuracy and alignment, to be discussedherebelow. In any event, it should be understood that the outer member14 can be readily disassembled from the inner member 12 by release ofthe screws 16.

With reference now to FIGS. 4 and 5, another embodiment of die former 20is disclosed, in this instance having adaptability for use with a model40 from a partial arch impression. In other words, and as is known, thedie former 20 has adaptability for use with a small grouping of toothimpressions. In any event, die former 20 comprises a member 22,typically defining a side Wall and a base, where another member 24,typically defining a side wall, is readily assembled with member 22through known snap-locks 26. Again, and most importantly, the facingsurfaces of the walls of the members 22 and 24 include verticallyextending ridges or ribs 28, for accuracy and alignment purposes.

As a matter of background for the use of either em bodiment of theinstant invention, as in connection with making a gold crown or thelike, for example, either a full or a partial arch impression is made bythe dentist. Thereafter, the technician pours up the impression to makethe desired teeth form, identified by either reference numeral 30a or40a, which when set, is then cut into shape so as to fit into either thedie former 10 or the die former 20.

Subsequently, the technician mixes stone 30b or 40b and places suchmaterial into the die former, laying the desired teeth form thereon soas to harden in position. Upon hardening, the resulting model 30' or 40is released from the die former, either through tapping, after thescrews 16 of the die former 10 are removed, or through tapping, afterthe unlocking of the snap-locks 26 of the die former 20. The technicianthen sections the model by r t 3 n i :aw cutting between the teeth andthrough the stone, as hould be particularly evident from FIGS. 1, 4 and5. The die former, in either embodiment, is then reassem- Jled with themodel and the technician can then proceed with the particular job athand.

With the present invention, any desired model section lefining a toothcan be readily removed from the diet former by an upward motion and, ofcourse, readily r e placed for over-all technician: work in the exactsame position because of the described ridges or ribs. The applicantsnew and novel die former,'in either emb0diment, affords quickness,convenience and accuracy, a :ornbination of features not present in anyprior art structure or technique. ,7

The die'formers described hereabove are susceptible, 1

of course, to various changes within the spirit of the invention. 'Forexample, other fastening or assembly arrangements might be employed,and, additionally, a permanent magnet may be embedded in the base ofeither type ofzadie former for ready mounting on a dental 20articulator.

I claim:

1. A dental die former for receiving a dental model comprising a firstwall member having an upstanding wall portion integral with a laterallyextending base, a 25 4 e movable second wall member each defined byvertically extending ridges and arranged to permit the free movement ofsaid dental model into and from said dental die former.

2. The dental die former of claim 1 where screw 7 0 portion integralwith a laterally extending base, a removable second wall member restingon said base, and snaploek means assembling said upstanding wall portionof said first Wall member and said removable second wall member, theinner facing surfaces of said wall portion of said first wall member andsaid removable second Wall member each defined by vertically extendingridges and arranged to permit the free movement of said dental modelinto and from said; dental die former.

References Cited W UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,733,508 2/1956 Carter 32l72,786,272 3/ 1957 Lindley 32---32 3,043,009 7/ 1962 Whitman 32-32 ROBERTPESHOCK, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. XR.

